Arsenal’s technical director, Mikel Arteta, strongly criticized the decision to award a penalty kick in favor of Sunderland, during his team’s 2-0 victory on Saturday in the English Premier League, stressing that such decisions could change the course of the season.

The referee awarded a penalty kick to Sunderland, the owner of the stadium, in the second half of the match, after Ezri Konsa brought down Arsenal player Dan Ballard inside the penalty area.

The score was a goalless draw at the time, but Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya saved Enzo Lo Ve’s penalty kick.

Although Arsenal was eventually able to achieve victory, Arteta remained angry at the decision to award the kick, and told the TNT Sports network after the match: “This is unacceptable, and it may change the course of the season and the tournament.”

The decision comes in light of new instructions to referees to be strict in dealing with violations inside the penalty area, while the English Premier League confirmed that the penalty kick was awarded because Konsa caught Ballard.

Arteta said that he watched the incident 10 times to make sure his impression was correct, adding: “I watched it live and said that there cannot be a penalty kick at this level. I spent nearly 27 or 28 years in football and it is not a penalty kick in any way, in any match, any context, or any league.”

Just two minutes after Raya blocked Le Vie’s kick, Bruno Guimarães put Arsenal ahead, before Bukayo Saka sealed the win with a penalty kick in stoppage time. (Sky News Arabia)